Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Flesor's Candy Kitchen

Saturday afternoon, Lisa, of Champaign Taste, and I set out to roam the countryside, make a few stops, for country lunch, country groceries, and old-timey soda fountain beverages. Our last stop of the day wasFlesor's Candy Kitchen, in Tuscola, IL, a restaurant/ice cream parlor/candy store that's been handed down from generation to generation since 1901.

We were on a mission to try their homemade ginger ale. While we watched and chatted with the girl making our drinks, the owner, Devon, stepped over and told us exactly how she makes her ginger syrup. I always appreciate when people aren't suspiciously protective of their craft. Devon could probably tell that we'd get in the car and drive 30 miles to have a fresh ginger ale prepared for us before we'd ever bother to steal her recipe.

They don't skimp on the ginger syrup:

Add ice & soda water:

Mix it good, and it's best with a lemon slice, we were told.

Delicious! Sweet and gingery, and very refreshing.

As we sipped our homemade ales, we watched the creation of ice cream sodas for a couple sitting next to us. These sodas are the real deal; unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the mountain of whipped cream that topped this one off.

While we sat snapping our photos, Devon offered, "if you want to have some fun taking photos, come on back into the candy kitchen!" Really? We can come into the candy kitchen? Yeah! We were like a couple of...bloggers in a candy shop!!

Fudge, fudge fudge!

And coconut peanut brittle:

All of which, along with a lot of other tasties, can be purchased at the candy counter:

While Lisa and I returned to our beverages and continued to take photos, Devon snuck back and handed us a bag of coconut brittle. We snacked on it while we made our other choices.

I've written here that I'm not much of a chocolate lover, but I did buy some dark chocolate coconut clusters that were amazing, and I don't exaggerate when I say that I will never pass through Tuscola again without stopping at Flessor's.

If you get an afternoon to yourself sometime, and you'd like to do a little time-traveling, jaunt on over to Flesor's for an authentic soda shop experience. Your kids will enjoy the history lesson, and your parents the nostalgia. Not to mention the ice cream.

It is WAY better, you have to go there. Now. Saturday. Get there, and blog it; I want to see K, J, & G, eating ice cream and candy, and getting a good old-fashioned sugar buzz that makes you rue the day you met me.

I go to Tuscola every month for work and swing by for a pound of candy for my 86 year old grandmother who lives in a nursing home. Good candy is her only joy. Often she has no idea who I am and tells me to go away, but she always likes the candy. In fact I'm going to Tuscola today, I'll have to try the ginger ale. Lunch is usually good there too and the employees are all sweethearts, especially Jessica.

I work at Flesor's, and I've lived in Tuscola all my life. I t is truly one of the most special places around. If you are considering the journey to Tuscola to visit this historic and unique location, know that it is worth the time!